[OPLINLIST] NEO-RLS News: Register Now For Our New Supervisors' Academy!

Wed Jan 7 15:13:57 EST 2026

[https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/public/users/Integrators/c2036c03-dbf6-4270-99c5-7afb8a06e2b9/NEOL/Newsletter%20Header%20Update.png]

[Makerspace Active Learning Community. Wednesday, January 21.]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485011479&mm=143294288323>

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A Note from the

Continuing Education Coordinator

Happy New Year! We continue to receive many inquiries about the New Supervisors' Academy, and I’m thrilled to share that registration is now open! We have once again reviewed your feedback and improved the academy.  Surveys continue to show that attendees find the most value in attending in-person workshops. Therefore, one significant change is that the academy is an all in-person event. This year’s academy begins on Wednesday, February 25, 2026<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485012701&mm=143294288323>, at the Twinsburg Public Library and ends in September. The academy consists of 7 sessions focusing on three key areas: leadership, communication, and staff development. The Academy is appropriate for new supervisors in multi-type libraries and for those who want a refresher.

We kick off the academy with It All Starts with Attitude and Knowing Yourself, where you have the opportunity to talk with a seasoned panel of directors/managers and gain insights on yourself and others through the Myers-Briggs Indicator. The remainder of the sessions are as follows:

  *   Session 2 -- Leading with Assurance: Decision-Making and Effective Supervision
  *   Session 3 -- Change Course without Rocking the Boat; Servant Leadership: A Service First Approach to Supervising & Developing People
  *   Session 4 -- HR Stuff Every New Supervisor Should Know: Having a Solid Legal Foundation
  *   Session 5 -- Evaluations and Executive Presence
  *   Session 6 -- Performance Improvement Discussions
  *   Session 7 -- Boosting Leadership Self-Confidence and a conversation with the panel

Last year’s participants had this to say:

"It was fantastic. As a very new supervisor, being in a room with so many different people was so helpful and informative. Each session was very informative and helpful, and I am very glad I got to attend."

"I thought it was a great academy. Having been a supervisor, for many years in different fields, I was uncertain that I would learn new skills. I was pleasantly surprised that I did take away new, valuable tips, tricks and strategies."

Click this event link <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485012701&mm=143294288323> for a complete description of the New Supervisors’ Academy, seating is limited to 30 so don’t delay.

We look forward to seeing you,

Melissa

Exciting Events & CE You Can’t Miss!

January

HR and Legal Update: Recent Changes in the Law and Trends Impacting Public Libraries<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485013923&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485013923&mm=143294288323>

1/7/2026

Strategic Leadership <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485015145&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485015145&mm=143294288323>

1/8/2026

Cultivating Well-Being: Creating a Supportive and Thriving Library Workplace <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485016367&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485016367&mm=143294288323>

1/13/2026

Children's Summer Reading Workshop: Unearth a Story <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485017589&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485017589&mm=143294288323>

1/14/2026

Don’t Just Shake it Off: Using Debriefing Tools to Support Front-Line Library Staff <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485018811&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485018811&mm=143294288323>

1/15/2026

NEW! Makerspace Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485020033&mm=143294288323>

1/21/2026

Top 25 Titles of 2025<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485021255&mm=143294288323> (F)

1/22/2026

NEW! (AI)ccessibility in Digital Collections <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485022477&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485022477&mm=143294288323>

1/27/2026

Teen Summer Reading Program: Unearth a Story<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485023699&mm=143294288323> (I)

1/28/2026

The AI Advantage: Next-Gen Project Managemen<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485024921&mm=143294288323>t<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485024921&mm=143294288323> (I)

1/29/2026

February

Don’t Go There: How to Avoid and Disengage from Controversial Conversations with Patrons and Staff<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485026143&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485026143&mm=143294288323>

2/4/2026

NEW! Directors/Deputy Directors Active Learning Community Meeting  <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485027365&mm=143294288323>

2/4/2026

Library Funding 101<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485028587&mm=143294288323> (F)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485028587&mm=143294288323>

2/10/2026

NEW! Genealogy Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485029809&mm=143294288323>

2/10/2026

Leading From the Middle: Managing Up and Down Simultaneously <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485031031&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485031031&mm=143294288323>

2/11/2026

Adult Summer Reading Workshop: Unearth a Story<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485032253&mm=143294288323> (I)

2/12/2026

NEW! Human Resources/Fiscal Office Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485033475&mm=143294288323>

2/13/2026

NEW! Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485034697&mm=143294288323>

2/17/2026

NEW! Public Relations and Marketing Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485035919&mm=143294288323>

2/18/2026

Make Presentations with Canva <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485037141&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485037141&mm=143294288323>

2/19/2026

It’s About Time: Supporting Neurodivergent Employees with Time Management in the Workplace<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485038363&mm=143294288323> (I)

2/24/2026

NEW! Workplace Wellbeing Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485039585&mm=143294288323>

2/24/2026

New Supervisors' Academy<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485012701&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485012701&mm=143294288323>

2/25/2026

AI’s Environmental Impact <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485040807&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485040807&mm=143294288323>

2/26/2026

March

Library Programming with AI: Using AI to Help Create Impactful and Memorable Library Programs<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485042029&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485042029&mm=143294288323>

3/3/2026

NEW! Training/Staff Development Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485043251&mm=143294288323>

3/3/2026

NEW! Creating More Joy & Resilience in the Library<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485044473&mm=143294288323> (F)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485044473&mm=143294288323>

3/4/2026

NEW! Middle Management Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485045695&mm=143294288323>

3/5/2026

AI & Information Literacy: Building Critical Evaluation Skills for Generative AI <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485046917&mm=143294288323> (F)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485046917&mm=143294288323>

3/10/2026

NEW! Book Discussion Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485048139&mm=143294288323>

3/11/2026

NEW! Circulation Active Learning Community Meeting<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485049361&mm=143294288323>

3/12/2026

NEW! <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485050583&mm=143294288323> Intellectual Freedom in Crisis: Moral Panics, Censorship, and the Cost to Library Workers <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485050583&mm=143294288323> (I)<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485050583&mm=143294288323>

3/19/2026

View Full Calendar<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485051805&mm=143294288323>

[Children's Summer Reading Workshop: Unearth a Story. January 14, 2026. Hilton Garden Inn.]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485053027&mm=143294288323>

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Still Time to Register

We still have a few seats remaining for the Children's Summer Reading Workshop:  Unearth a Story on Wednesday, January 14th<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485017589&mm=143294288323> at the Hilton Garden Inn in Twinsburg.  Please register no later than this Friday, January 9th.  Click this event link<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485017589&mm=143294288323> for more information and to register. We look forward to seeing you.

Save the Date - Salary Survey Coming Soon!

The 2026 Salary Survey will open in early March, and results will be shared in June 2026. Watch our newsletter for additional details and participation information.

[Don't Just Shake It Off. January 15, 2026.]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485054249&mm=143294288323>

[https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/pub/8ziy/om4q4zpg/w1d/6ti/pek/NewStateLibrary_1.png]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485055471&mm=143294288323>

State Librarian Listening Tour Outcomes and Next Steps

The State Librarian Listening Tour was a year-long initiative in 2025 for new State Librarian Mandy Knapp to build and nurture relationships and gather insights from both internal and external stakeholders across Ohio’s library community. This initiative had three phases. In Phase 1, the focus was on meeting with State Library staff members to understand internal culture and perceptions. Phase 2 involved engaging with partner organizations and key stakeholders, with progress updates shared monthly. Phase 3 wrapped up the tour by sharing findings publicly, analyzing feedback, and presenting final insights and next steps to the State Library Board.

You can view the summary and outcomes of the tour on the State Library’s website<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485056693&mm=143294288323>.

[In December we provided 11 events. 335 registered for live events. 232 registered for archived events/]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485057915&mm=143294288323>

[ALA Logo]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485059137&mm=143294288323>

Apply by February 2 for Library Programming Awards

The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries of all types that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming. This grant aims to help ease budget challenges by annually awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort.

Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a specific type of library programming. For the 2025-2026 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications to support programming related to strengthening community ties through libraries as third spaces. As one of the few remaining "third spaces"-public spaces where individuals can gather outside their homes or workplaces-libraries are uniquely positioned to bring people together and strengthen communities.

Applications for the award will be accepted until February 2, 2026. View the full award guidelines and apply online at https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/PeggyBarberGrant<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485060359&mm=143294288323>.

[Cultivating Well Being. January 13.]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485061581&mm=143294288323>

[Library Spotlight]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485062803&mm=143294288323>

Huron Public Library Hosts STEAM Program For Kids

Back in December, Huron Public Library hosted a Technology Petting Zoo using a circulating technology kit they borrowed from NEO-RLS. Kids in Kindergarten through grade 6 were able to drop by the library and see the technology in action. See photos from the event on Huron Public Library's Facebook page.<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485064025&mm=143294288323>

Interested in learning more about our Circulating Tech Kits? Visit our website here<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485065247&mm=143294288323>!

Email our Marketing & Engagement Coordinator Jill at jill.grunenwald at neo-rls.org<mailto:jill.grunenwald at neo-rls.org?subject=Library%20Spotlight> if you have a story from your library you want to share.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Click here <https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485066469&mm=143294288323> to create your own account.

[Reserve our Technology and Wellness Kits]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485065247&mm=143294288323>
[Continuing Education @ a Glance]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485067691&mm=143294288323>
[NEO-RLS Jobline]<https://mms.neo-rls.org/ct.php?lid=485068913&mm=143294288323>

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Northeast Ohio Regional Library System | P.O. Box 1021 | Twinsburg, OH 44087

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